Three-month limit: US slaps new visa restrictions on Nigerians, Ghanaians
Effective immediately, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of Nigeria will be single-entry visas with a three-month validity period. Those U.S. non-immigrant visas issued prior to July 8, 2025, will retain their status and validity.
The United States has changed its visa rules for Nigerian and Ghanaian citizens, reducing non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas to a single entry and a validity of just three months.
The UN Mission in Nigeria announced the development in a statement on X, noting that the new policy takes effect immediately. Non-immigrant visas issued before July 8, 2025, will not be affected and will remain valid for the full period granted.
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"The United States Department of State has announced updates to its reciprocal non-immigrant visa policy, impacting several countries, including Nigeria," the statement reads.
"Effective immediately, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of Nigeria will be single-entry visas with a three-month validity period. Those US non-immigrant visas issued prior to July 8, 2025, will retain their status and validity."
The embassy added that the decision is part of a worldwide review of visa agreements that allows Washington to adjust visa terms for other countries based on how those countries treat American travellers.
Nigeria issues single-entry visas valid for only three months to travellers coming from the United States.
"Visa reciprocity is a continuous process and is subject to review and change at any time, such as increasing or decreasing permitted entries and duration of validity," it said.
Further, the embassy said it is working with the Nigerian government to improve systems that could allow for longer and multiple-entry visas in the future. These include better passport security, preventing visa overstays, and sharing criminal and security information.
Despite the stricter rules, the US said it remains committed to its relationship with Nigeria and praised efforts by immigration and security officials to meet international standards.
"We commend the ongoing efforts by the Government of Nigeria's immigration and security agencies to meet standards of international best practices. We continue to engage with Nigerian government officials to address the remaining challenges," the embassy said.
"It also advised Nigerians applying for visas to follow all rules, keep their documents updated, and avoid overstaying their visas."
According to Business Insider Africa, Ghana has been affected by the revised policy. The changes have affected a wide range of visa categories, including B-class visas for tourists and business travellers, and F-1 visas for students. Previously, these visas allowed multiple entries and longer validity.
Diplomatic (A-class) visa holders will, however, continue to receive multiple-entry visas valid for 24 to 60 months. K1 and K2 visas for fiancés of US citizens and their children remain single-entry with a six-month validity.
K3 and K4 visas for spouses and dependents will still be issued as multiple-entry visas with a two-year validity.
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